Clematis plant named ‘TRA27’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Clematis  hybrid named ‘TRA27’ is disclosed, characterized by unique pale violet-blue flowers. Flowers occur from the base of the plant to the top. Flowering season is continuous from April until September. The new cultivar is a  Clematis  typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Clematis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TRA27’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of a breeding program, with the objective to develop new varieties of Clematis with strong growth and interesting flowers for commercial purposes. The new variety was discovered as a single plant among a group of seedlings of unknown parentage observed by the inventor, Bernard Travers. The discovery was made during 2002. Discovery was made at a commercial nursery in Orleans, France.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TRA27’ was first performed at a commercial nursery in St. Jean Le Blanc by vegetative cuttings during 2002. The inventor maintained the original plant, and observed the clones for several years, to establish stability of the characteristics. ‘TRA27’ has since produced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Public access to plant material first occurred during early Spring of 2014. Before this time, plant material was under the control of the inventor, or those directly authorized by the inventor and no enabling access to plant material occurred. This variety has been applied for Plant Breeder's Right's Protection in the EU, with CPVO application number 2013/1735. A copy of the technical questionnaire is included with the mailing of this application. A grant has not yet issued, and technical exam process has not been completed. Neither this application, nor any other publication resulted in an enabling disclosure of ‘TRA27’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TRA27’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TRA27’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TRA27’ as a new and distinct Clematis cultivar:

-   -   1. Flowers occurring from base to top of plant     -   2. Many axillary flowers buds     -   3. Very pale violet-blue flowers     -   4. Yellow stamens     -   5. Long flowering season, with new flowers forming from Spring         through Summer

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Parent varieties are unknown, the breeder is unable to supply records of the crossings.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TRA27’ can be compared to the known commercial variety Clematis hybrid ‘HF Young’ unpatented. The Clematis varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however ‘TRA27’ differs from ‘HF Young’ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘TRA27’ has pale blue flowers, compared to violet flowers of         comparator.     -   2. ‘TRA27’ has creamy yellow stamens and anthers. ‘HF Young’ has         white stamens with white anthers.     -   3. ‘TRA27’ produces many flower buds at the axils, whereas this         comparator produces a small amount of axillary flower buds.     -   4. ‘TRA27’ has elliptic tepals, whereas tepals of ‘HF Young’ are         lanceolate.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TRA27’ can be compared to the known commercial variety Clematis ‘General Sikorsky’, unpatented. The Clematis varieties have similar flower color and produce similar amounts of tepals. ‘TRA27’ differs from the comparator in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘TRA27’ are much shorter and have more controlled         growth.     -   2. ‘TRA27’ produces many axillary flower buds, whereas this         comparator does not.     -   3. ‘TRA27’ produces a slightly smaller flower.     -   4. This comparator produces a flower with a somewhat red-purple         center bar not found on flowers of ‘TRA27’.     -   5. Stamens of the new variety are creamy yellow, whereas stamens         of this comparator are yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical flowers and foliage of ‘TRA27’.

FIG. 2 depicts a plant of approximately 8 months, growing upright, and flowering all along the growth.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘TRA27’ plants grown outdoors in Saint Cyr en Val, France. The growing temperature ranged from approximately −2° C. to 25° C. at night to 8° C. to 33° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis hybrid ‘TRA27’. -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 months.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Vegetative cuttings. -   Time to initiate rooting: Approximately 20 days at 21° C. or higher. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: Approximately 40 days at 20° C.     or higher. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Climbing vine. -   Height: Approximately 180 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. During active growing season in Spring,     approximately 50 cm per month. -   Branching characteristics: One main stem. -   Length of main stem: Approximately 180 cm. -   Diameter of main stem: Approximately 0.2 to 0.5 cm. -   Main stem color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. -   Main stem texture: Glabrous. -   Internode length: Approximate range 5 cm to 11 cm. -   Strength: Strong, flexible, semi-woody.

FOLIAGE

-   -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, mostly single, occasionally compound             trifoliate.         -   Overall leaf length.—Average 6.8 cm.         -   Overall leaf diameter.—Average 4.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ellliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute, occasionally short apiculate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire, slightly ciliate.         -   Texture of both surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143B. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Very thin, fine margin near             Greyed-Purple 183A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Green 137C. Very thin, fine margin near Greyed-Purple 183A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143B.

-   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Average range 2.0 to 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186C.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Continuous flowering April through             September. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Axillary occurring; 1 or 3; flowers     facing outward. -   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 7 days from bud to fully     opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 8 to 12 days, after fully     opened. Self-cleaning. -   Flower fragrance: None. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 11 to 15 cm.         -   Depth.—Average 6.0 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Tepal arrangement.—Single whorl, overlapping.         -   Quantity.—6 per flower.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Margin.—Very slightly crenate, moderate undulation.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, velvety.         -   Length.—Average Range 5.0 to 7.0 cm.         -   Width.—Average 3.1 cm. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             97B with median line near Violet-Blue 97D. Lower surface:             Near RHS Violet-Blue 98C with streaks near Violet-Blue 97D.             Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 97C with             median line near Violet-Blue 97D. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 97C with streaks near Violet-Blue 97D. Ageing:             Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 97C with center streaks             near Violet-Blue 97D. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             97C with streaks near Violet-Blue 97D. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Elongated sphere.         -   Length.—Approximately 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.7 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 97A. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Average range 6 to 12 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Angle.—Average 45° to 80°.         -   Strength.—Flexible.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137A heavily flushed Purple N79A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 80 per flower.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158A.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.4.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158C.         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—Greyed-Yellow 161D. -   Pistil:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Style length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Fine irregular hairs. Color: Near RHS             Green-White 157B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Seed production not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Clematis has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately     −20° C. to 45° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis hybrid plant named ‘TRA27’ as herein illustrated and described. 